Tidbites | Week of August 15, 2013

The oldest little brewhouse in Texas will soon start distributing its beer to Colorado, hoping to penetrate a market currently focused on Colorado, California and Oregon craft beers.

Saint Arnold Brewing Company, located in central Houston, will begin distributing its flagship year-round beers in Colorado, including a Germanstyle Kolsch called Fancy Lawnmower, Elissa IPA and Santo, a “black Kolsch” with a “distinct dark malt flavor,” Saint Arnold’s website says. Saint Arnold, named after the French saint who is the patron saint of brewers, will also send its seasonals and special releases, including a pumpkin stout, the Divine Reserve one-off series and a barrel-aged series.

At 19 years old, Saint Arnold is roughly the same age as Avery, Twisted Pine and Left Hand. The first shipment of Saint Arnold’s beers will arrive in mid-September, the press release says. Saint Arnold’s website is saintarnold.com.

Beerfest and big hits

A Denver journalist recently quipped that craft beer had “jumped the shark,” or crossed over from cool to played out, because pop band Hanson had come out with a craft beer.

Another possible sign: ESPN has announced it will hold the inaugural ESPN Denver Beerfest on Saturday, Aug. 17, at Infinity Park in Glendale.

Yes, the big boys are on board, with a vengeance. ESPN has invited more than 30 breweries to its event, from Colorado brewers like Elevation, Wynkoop, Dry Dock, Upslope, City Star and Elk Mountain to national favorites like Utah’s Epic Brewing, Kona from Hawaii, Red Hook in New Hampshire and nonindependent craft beer Shock Top from Missouri.

The event is tied to the Serevi Rugbytown Sevens rugby tournament Aug. 17-18, also at the park. The tournament is named after Fijian rugby star Waisale Serevi. Tickets to the beerfest, which are $35, include entry to the tournament. More information is available at ESPNDenver.com.

Animal-free eating

Jill’s Restaurant, the high-end restaurant in the St Julien Hotel, has announced a weekly Friday lunch buffet that is entirely vegan.

The weekly buffet was announced via email by Lisa Shapiro, a vegan Boulderite who is the president of All Things Vegan, a public relations and marketing company that works to “foster the growth of vegan products.”

The vegan buffet, which will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Fridays and will cost $12, was created in response to requests from the Boulder and Beyond Vegan Meetup Group, Shapiro says in an email. Without naming any specific items, she says the buffet will have “quite a bit of variety.”

Ale rave

It’s been 34 years for Colorado’s first craft brewery, Boulder Beer Company, and the brewery is planning its Anniversary Beer Rave from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sept. 7 in the Boulder Beer taproom to celebrate.

The Rave will present draft beers from 34 Colorado breweries, with 12 Brewer’s Choice beers from Boulder Beer, including barrel- and cask-aged beers.

The event is being held to benefit the Boulder B-Cycle Program and the Colorado Brewers Guild, both nonprofits. Jimmy John’s will donate sandwiches, and classic rock band Riff Raff will play for free.

Tickets for the event are $30 and are available at boulderbeer.com or at the Boulder Beer Company’s pub at 2880 Wilderness Place.

Superior barbecue

Superior will soon be home to a smoky little slice of Texas.

Wayne’s Smoke Shack will hold a grand opening starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24, at its smokehouse and restaurant at 406 Center Drive in Superior.

In an indication that Wayne’s serves the “true Texas BBQ” that it advertises, the restaurant’s hours start at 11 a.m. and run until the kitchen is out of food for the day.

Along with the four meats any good barbecue serves — brisket, pork ribs, sausage and chicken — the smoke shack’s online menu includes maple-glazed fish, either tilapia or salmon. The restaurant also offers catering for lunch for 20 or more and dinner for 10 or more.